A 20-year-old malaria patient in India has died after the ambulance transporting her to the hospital stopped midway, with the driver claiming he had seen a leopard on the road.
According to the Times of India (TOI), the incident took place on Monday, October 27, in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh.
The young woman was being transferred from the Birsa Community Health Center to the Balaghat District Hospital after her condition worsened.
While passing through a forested area at night, the ambulance driver reportedly stopped, claiming a leopard was spotted ahead.
The patient’s family pleaded for the journey to continue, but both the driver and medical staff refused to move unless they were paid 700 rupees (around RM40) — despite the fact that the service was supposed to be free.
After negotiations, the family paid 600 rupees (about RM35), and the ambulance finally resumed the trip.
What was usually a one-hour journey stretched to nearly two hours, and upon arriving at the hospital, the woman’s condition had deteriorated. She was later pronounced dead.
The family has accused the driver and medical staff of negligence, saying the delay cost her life.
Following the incident, Balaghat Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr. Paresh Uplap lodged a police report.
According to TOI, police have arrested the ambulance driver and the medical staff involved for alleged negligence while on duty.
